Governor Bobby Jindal appears on Fox News to defend his “No-go zones” comments. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

A 70-year-old Farmerville man is facing four counts of distribution of hydrocodone. The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office says Hopkin Hallman was arrested following an investigation that began in August. Authorities say undercover buys were arranged in Union Parish on three separate occasions. The fourth charge was filed in Lincoln Parish. Hallman was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center. Bail is set at $35,000.

A vote is expected by the city council on a controversial ordinance that would prohibit smoking in New Orleans bars and casinos. Alex Fine, President of the French Quarter Business League, says they are concerned about the revenue hit this measure could have on business, on top of the 20 to 30 percent drop in business due to the crime crisis in the city…

cut 7 (07) “smoking ban”

Supporters of the ban say more should be done to protect bar and casino workers from the dangers of second hand smoke.

Because of the collapse of oil prices, Lafayette based Stone Energy Corp. announces it will cut spending this year by more than half of what the company spent a year ago. Gifford Briggs, Vice President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, says it was impossible to predict this would happen and it’s hard to say when crude will stop falling and gas prices will level off…

cut 13 (11) “for quite some time”

The cuts were part of an update Stone released on its operations.